NEWS

Czechs beat Serbia to keep Fed Cup title

PRAGUE (AP) -- The Czech Republic kept its Fed Cup title Sunday, when Lucie Safarova routed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-1, 6-1 for an unassailable 3-1 lead in the final.

Safarova won the second reverse singles in the best-of-five series. She captured the match against a former No. 1 player with a forehand on her second match point before an ecstatic sell-out home crowd on the hard court at O2 Arena.

The Czechs are the third country in a row to successfully defend the Fed Cup title. Russia won in 2007-08 and Italy 2009-10.

The Czechs took a 2-0 lead after the opening singles Saturday, but Ana Ivanovic made it 2-1 Sunday by beating Petra Kvitova 6-3, 7-5. It was the first loss for Kvitova after 11 straight Fed Cup singles wins.